Power unit for washing machines



NOV. 1, 1938. J, MIKULASEK 2,134,981

POWER UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. e, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 NOV. l, 1938. 1 MIKUidaSL-:K` 2,134,981

POWER UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Patented Nov. l, 1938 POWER UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES John Mikulasek, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application August s, 1936, serial No. 94,557

7 Claims.

The present-invention relates to Washing machines and'more particularly to a novel power unit and means and mechanism for operating the agitator or impeller of a washing machine.

5 Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel means and mechanism for operating the agitator or impeller of a washing machine so as to give it rapid oscillatory or reciprocatory movements and thereby vigorously impelling the washing fluid and garments or clothes carried by the uid in suspension, in substantial gyratory or circuitous paths.

A further object is to provide a novel power unit for a washing machine of the gyrator or im- ?3 peller type, in which the gyrator or impeller is oscillated through a desired arc or stroke with a rapidly accelerated and decelerated motion so as to produce greater turbulence of the washing fluid than is now produced in washing machinesof this type in general use. This greater turbulence of the washing fluid produces a greater and faster turnover and washing of the garments carried in the uid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power unit with means for adjusting and-varying the stroke or arc through which the agitator or impeller is oscillated.

Another object is to provide a novel power unit with means for adjusting the stroke of a Washing machine agitator or impeller, whereby to vary the rate of acceleration and deceleration of the agi-- tator or impeller during its stroke or path of travel. A

A still further object is to provide a novel means and mechanism for driving the agitator and vwringer shafts of a washing machine;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for housing the agitator and wringer drive mechanism in a washing ma.-

chine. In its preferred form the drive mechanism 4is encased or enclosed in two small housings 'spaced apart but operatively connected together.

A further object is to provide novel clutch mechanism for clutching and declutching the agi-` tator or impeller shaft with Vthe power drive.

. of maximum simplicity, efciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such fur-n ther objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

VThe invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement oi parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have -showntherein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a washing machine equipped with the novel drive mechamsm.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the novel drive mechanism, the tub being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 3 is a View, part in sideelevation and part in vertical cross section, through the novel drive unit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section of an alternate construction of oscillating drive and clutch arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the link drive shown in Fig. 2, but disclosed in another position of its travel.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in front elevation and Fig. '7 is a fragmentary View, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, of the drain. d

Referring more particularly t0 the drawings, the novel power unit is sho-wn as embodied in a washing machine I having a tub 2 in which is mounted an-agitator or impeller 3 of the gyrator type. The

` agitator is rotatably mounted upon a drive shaft d'extending'through the bottom of the tub with the lower end rotatable in the step-bearings 5 in the boss 6 of the gear casing 1. This casing forms a housing for the power unit or drive mechanism adapted to' be driven by a motor, engine or other power plant 8, through the medium of a pulley 9 driving by means of a belt or the like I0, a pulley I I mounted upon the drive shaft I2.

The drive shaft I2 rotates in bearings I3 and I4 formed or provided in the opposite sides of the gear casing 'I. Upon this drive shaft is flxedly mounted or keyed a worm I5 meshing with and driving a worm wheel I6 having its hub I1 pressed upon a bushing I8 adapted to rotate on the lower end of the agitator shaft.' Above the worm wheel Further objects are to provide a construction I6 is an eccentric I9 provided with an index plate 2|) having one or more indexing holes or notches 2| for selectively coupling the worm wheel to the index plate and eccentric by means of a pin or plunger 22 carried on a clutch 23. This clutch is slidably mounted on the'projecting hub I'I of the wormwheel and is adapted to be raised 'and lowered by means of a bifurcated yoke 24 having arms or 'ngers 25 seating in an annular groove '26 formed in the periphery of the clutch. The

yoke isy pivotally mounted adjacent its elbow in a clip plate 21, the vertical arm 28 of the yoke being pushed inwardly to lower the clutch 23 by means of a plunger 29 and disconnect the drive vHmchanism.v This plunger is carried by an eX-.

tension pushrod 30 which in turn is connected to an oscillating rod 3| by means of a toggle mechanism 32. A handle 33 permits the vertical oscillatingrod 3| tobe moved to an on or off position. When the extension push rod is' moved to an oi position, it disengages the clutch 2 3, and when moved to an o position, the clutch is vengaged and automatically coupled with the eccentric |9 by means of one or more springs 34, each forcing a plunger 35 against the lower surface of the clutch 23 and raising it into clutching or locking engagement, whereby the worm wheel I6 drives the eccentric |9 and index plate 26.

Mounted upo'n' the eccentric I 9 isa strap 36 having a connecting rod 31 pivotally connected at 38 to a whip-arm 39. This arcuate whip-arm 39 carries at its one end 40 a sleeve 40* pivotally mounted upon an eccentric hinge pin 4|, and itsswinging end 42 pivotally connected to a shuttle block 43 slidably mounted in the radially disposed guide of an arm 44, securely mounted on the agitator shaft 4.

rThe eccentric hinge pin 4| which, when swung from one de'ad center to the other', changes the position of the end 40 of the whip-arm 39 which in turn changes the relation of the swinging end 42 of the whip arm with the agitator shaft 4. 'Ihus the closer the arcuate line of travel of this swinging end 42 comes to the center of the agitator shaft 4, the farther this shaft will oscillate, and the farther the arcuate line of travel of this. swinging end 42 comes to the center of the shaft 4, the smaller arc will be traversed by the shaft 4in its oscillating movement. Also it should be evident that the travel of the swinging arm 42 accelerates double; i. e., as the shuttle block 43 approaches the shortest radial length on the swinging arm 42, and at which time the eccentric hinge pin 4| passes through its greatest effective eccentricity. The same is true of the deceleration of the swinging arm and its associated parts; i. e., as the shuttle block 43 approaches the greatest radial distance on the swinging arm 42, the eccentric hinge pin 4| is nearing one of its dead centers.

It shoum be noted that the speed ratios between the eccentric hinge pin 4| and the agitator shaft 4 are constantly in parallel relation,` whereby the agitator shaft will travel with greater accelerated and decelerated speeds and the agitator will impart this rapid change to the liquid and .produce violent turbulence in the liquid With shorter strokes or arcuate travel than now isbeingn accomplished with the more common eccentric or crank drive. It will be clearly apparent that with the increased whipping movementsof the agitator or impeller 3, .the latter needmake shorter strokes or angular oscillations with the consequent result of a better circulation of the water and clothes carried thereby, and necessarily less tangling of the clothes.

In` order to change the eccentricity'of the hinge pin 4|,I the invention comprehends rotatably mounting the upper` or outer reduced end 4| a of this pin in the top plate of the housing 1 and connecting the outer squared end to a plate or bracket 45 adapted to be adjusted by means of a thumb or adjusting'screw 46. Thus the operator4 maymanually adjust and change the position of this Aeccentric hinge pin 4| by rotating the bracket or plate 45 and' thereby not only adjust the angle or arc of oscillation of the agitator drive shaft, but also adjust the-speed of acceleration and deceleration of this drive shaft through its cycle of movement. An index plate a having suitable indentations or notches isadapted to receive the end of the adjusting screw.

In Fig. 4 there is disclosed an alternate construction in which the agitator shaft 4 is rotated in a long radial bearing 41 secured or pressed into the boss 48 of the gear housing 1. In this construction the clutch 49 which carries the plunger pin 22, is manually operated by ayoke 50 having opposite bifurcations or arms 5| seating in an annularI race 52 in the clutch 49. Any suitable shifter arm may be provided for rotating the shaft 53 to raise or lower the clutch into or out of clutching engagement with the eccentric I9.

In order to drive the wringer shaft 54,I the invention` comprehends provision of a bevel gear 55 xedly mounted on the hub |1 and under surface of the worm wheel I6. 'Ihis bevel gear meshes with and drives a bevel gear 56 mounted upon a shaft 51 encased in the cylindrical housing or sleeve 58 and having at its opposite end a bevel gear 59 meshing with and driving a bevel gear 60 in the housing 6|. This bevel gear 60 is mounted upon a stub shaft 62 suitably coupled at 63 to the wringer drive shaft 54. This housing 6| is provided vwith an offset projection 64 blended with and .coimected to a stub leg 65 suitably mounted upon the lower surface of the tub 2. The housing 6| is preferably made sectional and the sections suitably connected together by bolts or other suitable attaching means. The tub 2 is supported'upon legs 66 and 61, the latter being carried by the wringer, gear housing 6|,` while the motor or engine 8 is attached to and supported and a discharge nozzle 13. Except when the tu is being drained, the extension 12 is maintained in vertical position byV a collar 14 locked to the horizontal part 10 by a set screw 15, and a spring pressed plunger 16 carried by the collar. vThis plunger is adapted: to normally engage in'an in dexinghole 11 in the stub leg 65, but maybe withdrawn by means of a handle 18.

For the greater safety and to guard against the possibility of children tampering with the drain, the index 'plunger ,is located behind the leg in a less conspicuous location, but yet within easy reach of the operator. However, this same arrangement may be located at the front of the leg, if so desired.

From 'the 'bove description and the `disclosure in the drawings, it will become apparent that the invention comprehends a novel construction of power unit and drive ngechanism for a washing machine and also for a wringer in which the drive mechanism for the washing machine may be readily and easily adjusted to change the angle ..ciency, lbut with less danger of wear and tear.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I'claim:

amasar l. In a power unit for driving the agitator shaft cf a Washing machine, a drive member, an eccentric loosely mounted on the agitator shaft and adapted to be carried by the drive member and rotatable therewith, a connecting rod associated with the eccentric, a link connected to the rod intermediate its ends and fulcrumed at its one end with its other-end connected to the agitator shaft to produce a rapid acceleration at the beginning of and deceleration at the end of each stroke. Y

\2. In a power unit for operating the agitator shaft ci a washing machine, a rotating member, an eccentrically mounted member for changing the^ rotation into an oscillatory motion, a link connected to said member and the agitator shaft for oscillating the agitator shaft with a substantially uniform acceleration and deceleration, and an adjustable mounting for one end vof the link for varying the arc of oscillation and the rate of acceleration and deceleration of the agitator shaft.

3. In a power unit for driving the oscillating shaft of a washing machine, comprising rotating drive mechanism, means for changing the continuous rotation of the drive mechanism into an oscillatory movement, a link connected to said means and pivotally mounted at its one end and at its other end connected to the shaft for oscillating the shaft through a desired angle of oscillation and at a rapid rate of acceleration at the beginning of and deceleration at the end of each stroke, and means for adjusting the pivotal mounting of the link for varying the angle of oscillation and rate of acceleration and deceleration of the oscillating shaft.

4. In a power unit for driving the oscillating shaft of a washing machine, comprising rotating drive mechanism, means for changing the continuous rotation of the drive mechanism into an oscillatory movement, an arcuate link connected to said means and eccentrically mounted at its one end and its other end connected to the shaft for oscillating the shaft through a desired arc and cycle of oscillation, and means for varying the eccentricity ofthe mounting to vary the cycle of oscillation.

5. In a washing machine provided with an operating shaft, a'power unit for driving the shaft comprising a continuously rotating drive means including a driven gear,` eccentric means for changing the continuous rotation into an oscillatory movement, a clutch for connecting the drive and eccentric means, a link connected intermediate its ends to the eccentric means, one end of the link being eccentrically mounted, and a shuttle block connected to the other end of the link and to the oscillating shaft whereby the shaft is given a doubly accelerated and decelerated motion in its cycle of movement.

6. In a washing machine provided Awith an op-A erating shaft, a power unit for driving the shaft comprising a continuously rotating drive means including a driven gear, eccentric means for changing lthe continuous rotation of the drive means into an oscillatory motion, a clutch car ried on the driven gear and adapted to be moved into and out of clutching engagement with the eccentric means, an arcuate link connected to the eccentric means at a point intermediate the ends of the link, an eccentric mounting for one end of the link, a shuttle block connected to the opposite end of the link, an arm mounted on the operating shaft for oscillating the latter, and a guideway in the arm for slidably carrying the shuttle block.

7. In a Washing machine provided with an operating shaft, a power unit for driving the shaft comprising a continuously rotating drive means including a' driven gear, eccentric means for changing the continuous rotation of the drive means into an oscillatory motion, a clutch carried on the driven gear and adapted to be moved into and out of clutching engagement with the eccentric means, an arcuate link connected to the eccentric means at a point intermediate the ends of the link, an eccentric mounting for one end of the link, a shuttle block pivotally connected to the swinging end of the link, an arm mounted on the operating shaft'for oscillating the latter, a guideway inthe arm for slidably carrying the shuttle block, and means for varying the eccentricity of the end mounting of the link so as to vary the stroke and cycle of movement of the drive shaft.

JOHN EK. 

